MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
Honestly, I’m with you on the noise factor—those pressure-assist ones sound like a plane taking off. I keep wondering if the water savings really add up enough to justify the extra cost, though. Have you noticed a difference on your bills? I’ve heard some gravity-fed models can be hit or miss depending on brand, so I’m a bit skeptical about performance. Still, the idea of saving water without waking up the whole house is tempting. Maybe it’s worth a shot if you pick the right one...
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
I get the hesitation about performance—some of the early low-flow models really did have issues, but newer ones have come a long way. I’ve actually specified a few for clients who were worried about both noise and efficiency, and honestly, the right gravity-fed model can be super quiet and still do the job. The upfront cost is a thing, but if you’re updating anyway, it’s not that much more. Have you looked at dual-flush options? They’re a nice middle ground and don’t sound like jet engines...
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
I’ve noticed some clients get hung up on flush power, especially if they’ve had issues with clogs in older homes. Have you run into any problems with drain line compatibility when switching to these newer models? I’m always a bit cautious about recommending them in houses with older plumbing—sometimes the reduced water volume doesn’t play nice with long horizontal runs. Curious if anyone’s had to retrofit or adjust pipe slopes after installing a low-flow or dual-flush.
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
That concern about older drain lines is definitely valid. When we replaced two toilets in our 1960s ranch with dual-flush models, I was a bit worried about the exact same thing—especially since the main sewer line has a pretty long horizontal run before it hits the street. The plumber mentioned that sometimes, with those older cast iron pipes, the reduced water volume can leave solids behind if the slope isn’t quite right. We haven't had any major clogs, but every now and then, I notice it takes a couple flushes for everything to clear if there’s a lot of paper involved.
One thing I do wonder about is whether the type of toilet paper makes a bigger difference with these newer toilets than it did with the old high-volume models. We started using the “septic safe” stuff just in case, but I’m not sure it’s really helping or if it’s just marketing. Has anyone noticed a real difference based on brands or thickness?
I also hear mixed things about retrofitting pipe slopes. Some folks say it’s almost never worth the trouble unless you’re already gutting the bathroom or dealing with a major backup. Others claim even a slight adjustment can make a world of difference. I’d be interested to know if anyone’s actually tackled the slope issue after switching toilets and what kind of results they saw. Is it something that’s only necessary in extreme cases, or is it more common than we think? Sometimes I feel like the horror stories are more about rare worst-case scenarios than everyday reality.
We started using the “septic safe” stuff just in case, but I’m not sure it’s really helping or if it’s just marketing.
I’ve wondered about this too. In my experience, the “septic safe” label is mostly a marketing angle unless you’re actually on a septic system. Most municipal sewer lines can handle standard toilet paper, but with low-flow toilets and older pipes, the thickness and how quickly it breaks down might matter more than it used to. I’ve seen some brands that practically disintegrate on contact—probably better for these situations, but not exactly pleasant to use.
On the slope issue: retrofitting is rarely done unless there’s a persistent problem. Adjusting pipe slope isn’t trivial—it usually means tearing up floors or walls. In most cases, unless you’re already renovating or have chronic backups, it’s probably overkill. The horror stories do get passed around a lot, but in reality, most people don’t run into major trouble unless their plumbing was marginal to begin with.
If you’re only seeing occasional double-flushing, I’d chalk that up to normal quirks of older homes rather than a sign you need drastic changes.
